From beach and outdoor ceremonies to churches, historic buildings, vineyards and more, Auckland has a huge range of wedding venue options. Once you've decided to get married, choosing a venue can be the most important decision you’ll make – most couples find that once they’ve picked a venue, all the other details fall right into place.

So how do you decide which wedding venue is right for you? Here are some important points to consider when choosing your venue.

How big is your guest list?

This is perhaps the key factor in choosing a venue! Your venue needs to be able to accommodate the people you want to be with you on your wedding day. There are Auckland wedding venues to suit every guest list, from an intimate gathering of close friends and family, to large-scale events. Small Auckland wedding venue options include art galleries, restaurants and clubhouses. Examples of large Auckland wedding venue options include everything from function rooms and hotels to vineyards and halls for hire.

What kind of wedding do you want?

Choose a ceremony and reception style that suit you and your partner’s personalities and let you express who you are as a couple. Do you want a formal wedding with a religious ceremony or something more casual? Will your theme be modern, classic, vintage or retro? If you haven’t settled on a wedding theme yet, look for a wedding venue that can be decorated and styled in a variety of ways.

What season are you getting married in?

Are you having a summer or winter wedding? Consider what the weather is likely to be doing on your wedding day. If you have your heart set on an outdoor wedding, make sure you have a backup plan in place in case of rain. Beach weddings in summer are very popular for Auckland weddings – check out our helpful beach wedding guide for useful tips and information on planning a beach wedding.

All-in-one venue or separate ceremony and reception?

Would you prefer to hold both ceremony and reception in the same place, or book two separate venues? If you choose two, have you worked out how the bridal party and guests will be transported from one to the other? Will your budget stretch to decorating two venues? Many Auckland wedding venues are equipped to host the whole day – this can give you more time with your guests, make the day flow more easily and often save you money.

A Hauraki Blue wedding cruise gives you complete flexibility: it’s perfectly equipped to host both ceremony and reception. You could choose to hold the ceremony on board, on a beach, or you could have your ceremony elsewhere (for example, a church or at a Waiheke wedding venue) and hold your reception on board afterwards. It can accommodate up to 110 wedding guests cocktail style and 60 guests for a seated dinner – plus overnight accommodation for you and your guests.

Finding a venue that fits your budget

If you're looking for cheap wedding venues in Auckland there are plenty to choose from, or perhaps you're fortunate enough to be able to splurge on a luxury wedding venue - either way, when choosing from so many Auckland wedding venues it’s important to look at how they structure their pricing. Is it an all-inclusive wedding package or are all the costs separate?

Some wedding venues in Auckland offer a range of different wedding package options. Look out for hidden costs, such as items or services you might assume are included but are charged separately – especially if you’re considering a venue with a lot of ‘do it yourself’ work involved. These could include liquor licenses, supplying AV equipment and lighting, chairs and tables, wait staff, even the dancefloor!

Ask whether the venue hire charge guarantees you exclusive use of the space, or whether there will be other weddings or events taking place at the same time next door. Many venues will charge extra for an exclusive arrangement.

Of course, if you find a wedding venue that you love and that suits you perfectly, you will often be able to find ways to trim your wedding budget elsewhere in order to make it work.

What’s your venue like to deal with?

So you’ve narrowed your venue search down to a couple of options, and you’re making appointments to view the location and ask plenty of questions. Is your venue quick to respond? Do you have a single point of contact who will work with you from the planning stages right up to the big day?

Is your wedding venue flexible and willing to create a personalised experience, or do they offer a set package with a ‘one size fits all’ approach? When it comes to food, are you restricted to a set meal plan or will the venue work with you to create your menu?

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Discover Auckland’s beautiful scenery with a Hauraki Blue cruise. Hauraki Blue Cruises offers overnight and multi-day cruises around the islands of the Hauraki Gulf, with on board accommodation for 60 people.